Published 26 October 2009, doi:10.1136/bmj.b4210
Cite this as: BMJ 2009;339:b4210

Practice

A Patient’s Journey

Cardiomyopathy

Liana Daley, patient1, Jackie Gordon, associate specialist and honorary consultant in liaison psychiatry2, Charlotte Weston, foundation doctor in liaison psychiatry2, Kathy Webb-Peploe, consultant in cardiology3

1 Worthing , 2 Mental Health Liaison Team, Worthing Hospital, Worthing BN11 2DH , 3 Worthing Hospital, Worthing BN11 2DH

Correspondence to: J Gordon Jackie.Gordon@sussexpartnership.nhs.uk

This patient reflects on the background to her cardiomyopathy, possible contributory factors, and the ways in which she has come to terms with it

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

My journey started last autumn at work. Feeling "off colour" and nauseous, I went to my local accident and emergency department. It was quite amusing because they took my temperature and it was so low they asked me, "Are you alive?" I was admitted to the Royal Sussex County Hospital and stayed there for two months, during which time I was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy.

I had been aware that my physical strength had been diminishing. Previously, I had always been the one to stride out in front; yet when walking with my mother lately I had been unable to keep up. It was unfortunate as the cardiomyopathy came just when I was starting to get my life together. I was at my fittest and I was eating better. I was riding my bike and was running marathons. But the cardiomyopathy had been lying dormant for a while.

The doctors asked . . . [Full text of this article]


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